Our History

Mission

The Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation is committed to creating a world where engineering meets the needs and challenges of society by engaging the skills and talents of both women and men alike. To that end, we are dedicated to attracting women to the engineering profession so they may fully contribute to the development of our society and in so doing, honour the memory of the 14 women from L' École Polytechnique whose contributions to Canada ended on December 6, 1989.

History

The Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation was incorporated in 1990 under the initiative of Claudette MacKay-Lassonde, P.Eng. then President of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, who gathered a number of other concerned female engineers to establish the Fondation commémorative du génie canadien 1989/1989 Canadian Engineering Foundation.

In August 1990, the Board approved the basic objective of the Corporation, namely

“To provide the opportunity for women to prepare for, receive training and an education in engineering, and to do all such things as are incidental and conducive to this objective, specifically:

• To use, apply, give or distribute from time to time all or any part of the property of the Corporation or the income therefrom for the education of women in disciplines related to engineering and to educational institutions in Canada, including schools, colleges or universities;

• To provide for scholarships particularly to women attending or proposing to attend any school, college or university or undertaking or proposing to undertake post-graduate study or research in disciplines related to engineering in Canada;

• To provide for bursaries or financial assistance, including loans or gifts particularly to women attending or proposing to attend any school, college or university or undertaking or proposing to undertake post-graduate study or research in Canada in disciplines related to engineering; and

• To establish a national program of awards and incentives to encourage women to choose a career in engineering and recognize role models in engineering.

  Such objects to be carried out from time to time specifically to encourage and facilitate the entry of persons and particularly women into the profession of engineering and generally to create a better understanding of the need and opportunities for women as engineers”.

The CEMF was launched under the stewardship of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers who administered the charity until 1998 when a part-time Executive Director was hired. 

CEMF is led by a group of prominent members of Canada's engineering and business community and is funded entirely through donations from individual engineers, corporations, engineering faculties and engineering societies. Edward Jones manages the financial portfolio which provides interest income used to support Foundation activities.

The name was changed to the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation in 2013 when the organization adopted new Bylaws in accordance with the new Not-For-Profit Corporations Act.